I've just got home from my first big trip in the FF. It's 2011 TDV8 Autobiography and it covered the 2000 miles to and from Nice pretty perfectly, claiming about 27mpg. However...

There was a very strange sound intermittently coming from somewhere in the dash. It was almost like an electronic sound effect - like a ufo, or something from Star Wars! It sounded a bit like a high-powered motorbike speeding past in the other direction - a fizzy, high-pitched sound. It seemed to be coming from around the area of the centre dash speaker, but it was so intermittent and short that it was hard to be sure. I have read elsewhere about ECU fans making noise, so I wondered if it might be that? It's really hard to describe, but it didn't relate to stereo / cruise control / aircon / satnav - I went through a process of turning all of these things off and waiting to see if it recurred, which it did. It's going down to Harwoods in Edenbridge for a couple of other bits so I'll ask them to have a poke about, but any thoughts here would be very much appreciated.

Just for context, it was pretty warm (external temps up to the high 30s) so the idea that it might be a fan of some kind seems plausible. It might also explain why I hadn't heard the noise until this journey - I haven't used it in those temperatures before.

Many thanks in advance for taking the time...

Richard

i had the same on my 2008, it seemed to happen just before the main ac fan changes speed to get faster, never got any worse or better, I'm assuming it is either something moving baffle wise or some sort of actuator.

Noticed it on motorway journeys more for some reason. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

It seemed to be happening even with the fans and aircon off - the sound is like a short blip of a dentist's drill - it's distracting! I guess it could still be something to do with the aircon system even while it's not blowing, but I'm not sure. Cheers.

We get 'funny' noises from our sometimes (2012), it seems to be related to the setting of the 'aircon switch' for auto/reclrculate etc.
Again only seems to make itself heard on hot days when its set to 'auto' with th light showing.

My 2012 WM had intermittent buzzing sounds from the dash. The cause turned out to be some ducting behind the dash not being fully secured. It was repaired under warranty and has not recurred. Only Range Rovers since 1988

I'm still getting this sound... could anyone tell me what there is under the dash that might sound like an electric motor spinning up rapidly? I can't work out if it sounds like an electrical fan, or a motor briefly activating.

It doesn't seem to affect anything (except my desire to know what is going on) - racked up a few thousand miles already with trips to the south of France and north of Scotland, getting about 500 miles from a tank of diesel, and generally finding it a very enjoyable place to be!

Just for future reference, I'm still searching for a solution to the noise, and have found this - potential noise from the ECU cooling fan:

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=77990

I'm going to have a look and see if I can find it, and then try to lubricate it or replace.

Apologies for still asking about this, but please could someone point me in the direction of info on what is under the dash on a 2011 TDV8? I am still getting this strange whizzing noise, which sounds like I'd imagine a toy robot would sound like - a small electric motor spinning up rapidly and repeatedly, maybe moving something like an air vent... So far the dealer has been unable to recreate it, but it happens regularly over the course of long journeys. Anyway, any assistance would be gratefully received, thanks!

try and make a video of it , then show the dealer...

Cheers Stan,

I am trying to, but it's not that loud so it's hard to pick up over the background noise of travelling, but I'll keep trying.

I was (still am) getting a sound like this, but only then turning to the left. I haven't actually sorted it, or opened it to find the exact source and remedy it but on mine it turned out to be the cabin blower, presumably worn bearings, shims or mounts in the fan allowing it to rub against the casing when cornering to the left.

Try turning off the blower, or changing the airflow direction if you hear it again to see if it makes a difference.

Hi Hamlet,

I've had it when all heaters / climate were off. Also when cruise control off; stereo off and satnav off. It's really baffling! I have a feeling it only happens when moving, but I need to confirm that theory - at present it's all I've got. I wondered if it might be an ECU cooling fan heard via the dash vents but that's me clutching at straws.

Thanks for the help,

Richard

Air sampling fan for the a/c ? Wild guess here... The best 4.4 x far

Could it be the hard drive for the infotainment/nav system? 2021 D350 Fifty Edition - Carpathian Grey
2017 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography (2021-2024) - Santorini Black
2012 4.4 TDV8 Westminster (2016-2021) - Santorini Black

It does sound like a fan whizzing up, so air sampling for the a/c is a possibility if that lives under the dash. It happens when all the systems are off, so I wonder if that would still work, but sounds plausible. Equally I suppose it could be a hard drive, though it still happens when nav is off. Again, very plausible.

Thanks very much for both suggestions, I'll mention them to the tech next time I take it for service. I suspect the answer would be to leave it with the service manager at Edenbridge for a few days until he can hear it. I know it's minor, but while it's under warranty...